Arunachal BJP backs ECI clarification on SIR, questions basis of criticism against poll panel

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Arunachal Pradesh on Sunday, September 27 defended the Election Commission of India (ECI) amid the ongoing political debate over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and questioned the basis of allegations concerning the functioning of the poll panel.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP state headquarters in Itanagar, party spokesperson Tobom Dai referred to statements made by Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on September 24, including his demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Dai said political leaders, particularly those holding constitutional positions, should verify facts before making allegations concerning constitutional institutions.

The BJP spokesperson cited the ECI's clarification issued on September 26 following reports about alleged differences among members of the poll panel over the SIR exercise. According to the clarification, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi held a full Commission meeting and stated that decisions relating to the SIR were taken with the approval of the full Commission.

The ECI also addressed questions concerning official communication with the Cabinet Secretary and the Form-6 process, which is used for inclusion of names in electoral rolls.

Dai said the clarification should be considered while assessing allegations and political claims surrounding the SIR process. He said media reports about alleged differences within the Commission and the ECI's subsequent clarification should be examined separately and against official records.

He further said that the ECI's stated position that SIR-related decisions were taken unanimously by the full Commission raised questions about the basis for demands seeking the CEC's resignation.

The BJP spokesperson also referred to the controversy following an investigation published by The Indian Express, which reported alleged differences among Election Commissioners. Opposition leaders subsequently raised questions over the functioning of the Commission and sought action against the CEC.

Dai said matters relating to electoral rolls, voter inclusion and verification should be addressed through established constitutional and legal mechanisms and that public debate on electoral institutions should be based on verified information.

He also alleged that questions were raised against the Election Commission and other constitutional institutions by Congress leaders when the party or its allies faced electoral setbacks, while the same institutions were accepted when they delivered electoral victories for the Congress and its allies.

Dai said constitutional institutions should be subject to scrutiny but that such scrutiny should be based on evidence, official records and due process.

BJP Arunachal Pradesh president Kaling Moyong, in a social media post, said electoral processes and constitutional institutions should be respected irrespective of political outcomes. He also referred to the ECI's clarification that the SIR decision had received unanimous approval from the full Commission.

Arunachal Pradesh BJP MP Tapir Gao also commented on the issue on social media, referring to the ECI's clarification on unanimous decision-making on the SIR and stressing the need to respect democratic institutions and the electoral mandate.

The BJP Arunachal Pradesh said issues concerning electoral rolls, the ECI and the SIR process were matters of public importance and called for their discussion on the basis of verified information and established procedures.